Chad

Emerging from decades of instability some five years ago, Chad is becoming an increasingly important stabilizing player in central Africa.

Yet the country still struggles with drought and food insecurity, while the

ongoing Boko Haram conflict in the Lake Chad Basin region has created

internal displacement and an influx of refugees. This has strained Chad’s

resources and created a precarious living situation for communities

within this region.

Since 2004, International Medical Corps has provided emergency

medical relief including secondary and primary health care, maternal

and child health services, nutritional support and water, sanitation and

hygiene (WASH) services in Chad. Our programs engage communities

through Village Health Committees and a network of community health

workers, and offer medical training to help build a sustainable recovery

through support to the established national health system.

Since the start of our work in Chad in 2004, International Medical Corps’ services have reached an estimated 180,000 beneficiaries a year, including internally displaced people, Sudanese and Central African Republic refugees, and host community members. Through 23 health centers, one hospital and 5 mobile medical units in the Lake region, and 14 health Centers and 1 hospital in Abdi, we deliver essential services, including secondary and primary health care, nutritional support, and maternal and child health services. Throughout all of our programs, International Medical Corps partners with local communities and emphasizes training to develop the capacity needed for long-term recovery.

In addition to supporting the government in annual vaccination campaigns against polio, measles and meningitis, as part of its mandate, International Medical Corps has trained hundreds of health workers to ensure sustainability and handover to the local community when the level of emergency declines.

In the face of scare resources and regional instability, people in Chad struggle to protect and rebuild their lives.

⊲ Curative health services

⊲ Mother and child health care

⊲ Disease awareness, prevention, and response

⊲ Basic epidemiological monitoring systems and emergency response capacity for epidemic outbreaks in all supported health facilities

⊲ Nutritional screening and support

⊲ Health and sanitation promotion and education

⊲ Expanded immunization programs, including polio eradication activities

⊲ Capacity-building for District Health Offices (DHO) in health service management in Bagasola, Bol and Abdi through training and supervision

⊲ Provision of health promotion and community management activities through the training of Village Health Committees and community groups to increase utilization of preventative services

PRIMARY HEALTH CAREInternational Medical Corps strives to increase access to quality and effective primary health care services in Chad, including:

SECONDARY HEALTH CAREWe provide targeted secondary health care support through our partnership with Bagasola Hospital. This includes providing essential medicines, medical supplies and equipment to the hospital, as well as providing training for hospital staff. We also support diagnostic services, emergency obstetrics, minor surgical procedures and treatment for the major causes of pediatric and adult mortality in hospital patients.

MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTHMaternal and child health care services remain desperately needed in Chad, where maternal mortality is extremely high and immunization coverage is only around 45% for those under 5 years old. To support mothers and children, International Medical Corps provides:

⊲ Voluntary family planning services

⊲ Antenatal care

⊲ Clean and safe deliveries

⊲ Postpartum care

⊲ HIV testing and counseling, as well as prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)

⊲ Immunization services for pregnant and lactating women and children under five

⊲ Growth monitoring and nutrition screening for pregnant and lactating women and children under five

⊲ Integrated management of childhood illnesses in the Bagasola hospital pediatric ward

To expand access to these services and ensure the long-term delivery of care, International Medical Corps also provides training to traditional birth attendants and community health workers who link medical programs to their communities.

HIV/AIDSAs HIV/AIDS becomes increasingly prevalent in Chad, International Medical Corps provides voluntary counseling and testing and distributes prevention methods such as condoms. International Medical Corps also offers post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for victims of sexual assault and those who have been exposed to HIV/AIDS, as well as antiretroviral treatment for those infected and PMTCT for pregnant women.

NUTRITIONA severe and ongoing food crisis continues to affect millions of people across Africa’s Sahel region. Malnutrition remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality for the most vulnerable populations of pregnant women, new mothers and children under five. International Medical Corps integrates the management of Severe and Moderate Acute Malnutrition into the Minimum Initial Package of Health Services at supported health facilities and through the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approach with support from community health workers. Through stabilization and therapeutic feeding centers, we treat acute malnutrition cases with medical complications, providing the specialized attention and care needed for recovery.

Our use of culturally accepted education materials and awareness campaigns—in topics including infant and young child feeding practices, and the prevention, recognition and treatment of malnutrition—helps communities maintain and extend gains in health and nutrition. International Medical Corps also conducts cooking classes using local food commodities to educate mothers on the best way to prepare food while maintaining the maximum nutritional content.

Ronald-Paul Veilleux , Country Directorveileux@InternationalMedicalCorps.org

Federica Badocco fbadocco@internationalmedicalcorps.org.uk

HEADQUARTERSCONTACT:

COUNTRYCONTACT:

www.InternationalMedicalCorps.org

A preeminent First Responder for more than 30 years, International Medical Corps has provided emergency relief to those struck by disaster, no matter where they are, no matter what the conditions, working with them to recover, rebuild and, through training, gain the skills and tools required to achieve self-reliance.

JUNE 2018

HEADQUARTERS: 12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1500 | Los Angeles, CA 90025 PHONE 310-826-7800 | FAX: 310-442-6622

DC OFFICE: 1313 L St. NW, Suite 110 | Washington, DC 20005PHONE 202-828-5155 | FAX: 202-828-5156

⊲ Health care workers provide nutritional support and deliver primary health care

⊲ Community health workers educate their peers about basic health topics, such as preventing the spread of diseases, including HIV/AIDS

⊲ Local residents manage kitchen gardens built with the help of International Medical Corps, providing nutritious food in the community

⊲ In addition to basic job training, all International Medical Corps staff members receive on-the-job supervision and guidance to continue their health education

⊲ Traditional birth attendants and midwives trained with the support of International Medical Corps help ensure clean, safe deliveries

CAPACITY-BUILDINGInternational Medical Corps provides medical training, engages community leaders and government workers, and rehabilitates medical facilities to help build a secure and reliable health care system. Local citizens and refugees play a number of crucial roles linking and delivering care to their communities. For example: